State House calendar, week of Feb. 4, 2013

Monday, 10 a.m., Taxation Committee; public hearings, room 127, State House, L.D. 10, "An Act to Provide a Property Tax Exemption for Family Burying Grounds." This bill exempts family burying grounds of a quarter-acre or less from property taxation.

Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee; public hearings; room 208, Cross Building

L.D. 1, “An Act to Amend the Maine Workers’ Compensation Act of 1992.” Clarifies a number of Workers’ Compensation Board procedures and rules; extends the deadline on predetermination requests to 30 days; makes board decisions on predetermination requests final; eliminates outside review of employment rehabilitation requests; extends reinstatement petitions for small business to two years; makes employers reimburse insurers if the employer causes a late first injury filing.

L.D. 35, “An Act to Amend the Law Concerning the Membership of the Maine Economic Growth Council.” Changes the legislative membership on the Maine Economic Growth Council to one Democratic senator, one Republican senator, one Democratic representative and one Republican representative.

L.D. 26, “An Act to Authorize the Commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to Change a Fishing Season Opening Date Statewide.” Allows the commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife to change fishing season opening dates if conditions makes it necessary.

L.D. 41, “An Act to Allow a Person 65 Years of Age or Older to Fish with Bait in any Inland Water.” Allows people 65 and older to use bait in inland waters and troll a fly in inland waters restricted to fly-fishing only.

L.D. 42, “An Act to Prohibit the Use of Rubber Lures for Fishing.” Prohibits the use of rubber lures when angling or fishing.

L.D. 43, “An Act to Ban the Use of Nondegradable Hooks for Fishing.” Requires that a fishing hook must be made of material that degrades or decomposes.

L.D. 8, “Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services to Provide Coverage under the MaineCare Program for Home Life Skills Services for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities for Autistic Disorder.” Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to add the teaching of home life skills to adults with intellectual disabilities or autistic disorder as a covered MaineCare services.

L.D. 29, “An Act to Provide Support Services to Adults with Intellectual Disabilities or Autistic Disorder.” Adds $2 million for the Department of Health and Human Services budget over the next two years to expand MaineCare coverage for employment services, transportation and respite care for people with intellectual disabilities or autistic disorder, and leverages additional federal funding.

L.D. 30, “An Act to Provide Home and Community Services for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities or Autism.” Adds $2 million for the Department of Health and Human Services budget over the next two years to expand MaineCare coverage for home care services for people with intellectual disabilities or autistic disorder, and leverages additional federal funding.

L.D. 5, “An Act to Make Changes to the Potato Marketing Improvement Fund.” Gives governing authority of the Potato marketing Improvement Fund to the Maine Potato Board; requires the board to establish a committee to advise the board.

L.D. 37, “Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 4: Rules of Practice, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.” Emergency bill approves rule changes regarding representation before the Land Use Regulatory Commission.

Judiciary Committee; public hearing, room 438, State House

L.D. 58, “Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Restrict the Use of Eminent Domain.” Amends the Maine Constitution to prevent transfer of property taken by eminent domain to private parties; gives the original land owner right of first refusal if, after five years the property has not been used and the government seeks a new use or to transfer the property.

L.D. 4, “Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 675: Infrastructure Surcharge and Capital Reserve Accounts, a Major Substantive Rule of the Public Utilities Commission.” Approves rule changes by the Public Utilities Commission on temporary surcharges that can be made by water districts, and the amount of money they must keep in reserve.

L.D. 81, “An Act to Amend the Charter of the Ogunquit Sewer District.” Eliminates a 1963 law on debt held by the Ogunquit Sewer District, which was superseded by a 2011 law.

L.D. 2, “Resolve Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 252: Rules Governing Certification of Seed Potatoes in the State of Maine a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.” Adopts rule changes made by the Department of Agriculture on the certification on seed potatoes.

Wednesday

10 a.m.

Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee; work sessions, room 208, Cross Building

L.D. 32, “An Act to Expand the Types of Vaccines That May be Administered by Pharmacists.” Allows pharmacists to give adults vaccines not recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, provided a medical professional has prescribed it as necessary.

Transportation Committee; public hearings, room 126, State House

L.D. 11, “An Act to Allow Vehicles Engaged in Snow Removal or Sanding Operations on Public Ways to Use Pre-emptive Traffic Light Devices.” Emergency bill adds snow removal and sanding vehicles contracted by the municipal, county, or state agencies to the list of vehicles that can use emergency traffic signals switches.

L.D. 12, “Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation to add a Reference to the Katahdin Trails to the Sign for the First Newport Exit on Interstate 65 North” Directs the Department of Transportation to amend the exit sign at Newport to refer to the Katahdin Trail.

L.D. 13, “Resolve, Directing the Maine Turnpike Authority to Place Signs Direction Motorists to Berwick Academy.” Directs the Maine Turnpike Authority to place signs on the northbound and southbound exits closest to Berwick Academy; requires Berwick Academy to pay for signs.

L.D. 14, “Resolve, Directing the Department of Transportation to Name a Bridge Between Kennebunk and Kennebunkport the Mathew Lanigan Bridge.” Names the bridge on Route 9 that crosses the Kennebunk River between Kennebunk and Kennebunkport the Mathew Lanigan Bridge.

L.D. 21, “An Act to Amend the Motor Vehicle Laws Governing Requisite Tire Size.” Removes the requirements that the overall diameter of a tire be within 2 inches of the range of sizes recommended by the manufacturer of the motor vehicle.

L.D. 52, “An Act to Improve the Safety of School Buses.” This bill requires that school buses purchased after Jan. 1, 2017, be equipped with bumpers that conform to U.S. Department of Transportation requirements for bumpers on semitrailers.

L.D. 57, “An Act to Exempt Occupants of Antique Autos from Seat Belt Requirements.” Exempts the driver of passengers of an antique auto from having to wear seat belts.

State and Local Government Committee; public hearings, room 214, Cross Building

L.D. 49, “An Act to Amend the Laws Governing Payment of Fees to Registers of Deeds.” Makes automated check payments follow the same rules as other payment methods.

L.D. 82, “An Act to Establish a People’s Veto Process for Actions of County Commissioners.” Establishes a people’s veto for the actions of county commissions.

L.D. 48, “An Act to Streamline the Publication of Municipal Reports.” Requires municipal reports to be published in both hard copy and digital on a public website. Requires requests for hard copies be made two weeks prior to printing.

L.D. 20, “An Act to Fully Fund the Homemaker Services Program.” Provides $3 million for the next two years for the Department of Health and Human Services to expand coverage under the independent support program, aka the homemaker services program.

L.D. 33, “Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 27: Standards for Pesticide Applications and Public Notification in Schools, a Major Substantive Rule of the Board of Pesticides Control.” Emergency bill adopts the rules made by the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Board of Pesticides Control regarding public notification of schools and standards for pesticide applications.

L.D. 38, “Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Chapter 201: Provider of Last Resort Service Quality, a Major Substantive Rule of the Public Utilities Commission.” Emergency bill adopts the rules made by the Public Utilities Commission regarding the quality of service provided by certain telephone companies.

1:30 p.m.

Judiciary Committee; work session, room 438, State House

L.D. 58, “Resolution, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Restrict the Use of Eminent Domain.” Amends the Maine Constitution to prevent transfer of property taken by eminent domain to private parties; gives the original land owner right of first refusal if, after five years the property has not been used and the government seeks a new use or to transfer the property.

L.D. 5, “An Act to Make Changes to the Potato Marketing Improvement Fund.” Gives governing authority of the Potato Marketing Improvement Fund to the Maine Potato Board; requires the board to establish a committee to advise the board.

L.D. 37, “Resolve, Regarding Legislative Review of Portions of Chapter 4: Rules of Practice, a Major Substantive Rule of the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.” Emergency bill approves rule changes regarding representation before the Land Use Regulatory Commission.

Friday

10 a.m.

Taxation Committee; work session, room 127, State House

L.D. 10, “An Act to Provide a Property Tax Exemption for Family Burying Grounds.” This bill exempts family burying grounds of a quarter-acre or less from property taxation.

L.D. 55, “An Act to Promote Filmmaking in the State.” Provides partial reimbursement to companies making feature films in rural Maine areas prior to Jan. 1, 2015, up to $800,000.

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